Welfare a Joke

from JoeUser Forums
Alright, I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me on this, but I don't care. I think that instead of welfare sending the person/family a check every month, they should have their bills paid with a portion of the money they're alloted, then they should get coupons allowing them to get about a months worth of food. I think giving people money is a bad idea. There are a lot of impoverished people in my town (recent layoffs have killed over 1000 jobs), and when they get their welfare check, they spend it on worthless junk instead of clothes for their kids, necessary repairs, or food of all things. I have gone over to many people's houses who haven't the cash to pay for a school lunch, but can somehow come up with the cash to purchase a 60" TV and an XBOX. I think that's a joke.
politics
6,179 views 5 replies
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
You might want to change your nickname back to whatever it was before whoever tampered with it. They did the same to mine.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Welfare is a joke. I've been on it, and it sucks the ass of your daddy.
The times that I have been on it in the past were short: a month at the most. I was in between obtaining employment and continuing my education, and for that time, I didn't care in what form I was able to recieve the necessities: check, coupons, work exchange program, whatever.
The worst thing about welfare is the stigma that is attached to it.
Yes, I was broke. Yes, I had a child. Yes, I wasn't married.
But there were so many other variables that are not known before people will begin to make personal judgements upon me.
I've worked since I was 15. I have a great work ethic. I am more employable than many of the same social service workers that I have met in my past. I have volunteered my precious time to good causes including literacy programs, shelters, arts initiatives, and tutoring university level students not to mention parental involvement with my girl's school and activities. I am educated, and have had part time jobs while going to school full-time during my university years. I have earned my honours degree in both Native Studies and Cultural Studies and have had the opportunity to do some interesting research in various fields. Before I had my girl, my average was a 67%, when I finished it was 83%. I even won a Critical Theory award from my university. I wasn't just hiding out in school, I was working my ass off!
So why welfare? Because I am a single mother and live in a community where job opportunities are scarce. And it's not just the job opportunities, but it's the childcare availability combined with many other issues that aren't excuses but facts.
In my case, unplanned parenthood was probably the root of my fiscal problems, but it's not to say that I wasn't using precautions either. It was a fluke, but it was the best goddamned fluke in my life. I'll take poverty over not having my daughter, any time.
You know, I get all edgy when people start to reveal too much of themselves online, but at the same time, maybe having people explain from a personal point of view might make debates of homelessness, poverty, welfare, etc., more than just volleying statistics around.
Welfare sucks, from a participant point of view as all. We aren't all spending checks on gameboys and gin and tonics. Some of us are doing our best to support our children and use welfare as it should be used: a temporary measure designed to aid in need. And you aren't going to know who we are unless you ask, listen or open your eyes.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
NickyG, I agree with what you say, and with what you say being true in your circumstance, I applaud your efforts. That being said you are in the low percentile of reciepiants that would not be the cause of such "drastic" measures that OOPS speaks of. But, something needs to be done.

When I'm in line at the market to pay cash for my hamburger meat, I have been held up while the person in front of me counts out their food stamps to pay for their T-bone steak. Then after that, they pull out cash to buy a carton of cigarettes.

I won't pretend to know the solution to the problem, but the current system has flaws.

Now I must digress back, and I'm slipping here, I'm gonna hurt feelings, I know, but I, I , just can't help it. aaaaaaaggghhhhhh!

I don't know much about "Native studies and Cultural Studies", and I don't know what Critical Theroy might be, but if you do then you ought to get an award for it.
But did you ever think about learning to Weld. Maybe how to drive a truck. I, I ,I, know NURSING. Man I heard there was a big demand for that. Maybe even the Natives need some Nurses. You get my point. You can go to school for years learning something you love. You can get a degree in anything now, say for instance raising DoDo birds. But I don't think you can be successful at raising DoDo birds. Even with a degree. If you can't make a living at what ever it is, and support your family, then whatever education you have or degree you got, won't by you a cup of coffee or put food on your table.

Oh well, there, I said it.

Best of luck finding a J O B that you want and one that you'll love.

Oh, yeah, If theres not one around there, you might concider moving.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
capt775: I agree totally with what you are saying. Thanks for the education advice. (Just in case you didn't realize, I was talking about the past. Furthering my education, was a good choice. It's helped more than you can imagine. ) But again, without having that immediate knowledge, you still might have been thinking that I was just sponging the system. Wasting time in a dead-end town, wishing for that job instead of going for it. Making untrue judgements, and having that mental image of a single mother, welfare recipient, living off taxpayers hard earned money because she was too damned stupid to even consider that moving might be a good idea.
Duuhhhh. I think you missed my point entirely.